Disconnected

On this overseas trip, I actually did bring my cell phone, but only as a portable viewer for electronic maps. Incompatible technology however, leaves me disconnected, in a land where having a cell phone is assumed.

Running low on virtual memory

Turning on the television only furthers the digital divide. Unlike in Sweden, where foreign-language programs are never dubbed, but only subtitled in Swedish, the only English-language channels here are usually BBC World and/or CNN. The CNN International edition (including The Daily Show Global Edition) is quite different from the original, and more like the BBC News. Which only serves to make Fox News (where available) seem even more distasteful in comparison.

No Bush

The Americans you meet overseas are on average, not the same as those you meet in America. Still, I wonder what they make of all the state-run networks, and the handful of private independent networks. Not to mention Al Jazeera...

Nevertheless, you can always count on catching an episode of
Die jungen Ärzte on RTL or Lost on RAI.

Fußball ist König

If I can't be in Italy with the Azzurri still in the hunt, then I might as well be in a place where everyone is caught up in a big semi-final game.

This is a place where household names like Ballack, Schweinsteiger, and Klose have resonance. The Schwarz-Rot-Gold is everywhere, on buildings, cars, shirts, and painted faces. With the Turkish consulate down the street, there are also plenty of Turkish flags. On the news, one gentleman had sewn together halves of the German and Turkish jerseys.

Fighting the jet lag and lack of sleep, it becomes difficult to keep watching the game on TV. There is a lot of tense waiting by the fans, for their team to pull ahead, or hoping desperately for the equalizer. The reaction to goals by both sides is instantly heard, up and down the street. In this well-played and entertaining match, there are several, and none of the ugly kind.

Vienna Calling

In the end, the home team pulls out a victory in the last minute of regulation time. With the windows open for lack of air conditioning, it takes a bit longer before I can sleep, due to the requisite honking of horns.

Going international

After four straight weeks of travel (24 out of 31 days in May), three weeks at home is quite refreshing. However, the layoff also meant that today, I became the dreaded clueless infrequent traveller, during a moment of inattention, while stuck in the security line behind a clueless infrequent traveller.

It's been 18 months since my last trip to Europe, and my first time in the new international wing of Pearson. The glass art is nice, as are the metal sculptures, so tempting for children to play on.

Das Crazy

Guzzler

Strike three against the Chrysler company. After the debacle of driving a Dodge Magnum on Vancouver's narrow roads, and a so-so experience with a glaring white PT Cruiser, the anachronistic behemoth that is the 300 has closed the door. Granted, I had one generally positive rental with the Dodge Caliber SXT, but it wasn't good enough to convince me not to avoid Chrysler in the future, whenever possible.

I even tried to return the 300 early, to exchange it for another, less monstrous car, but the only vehicles in the the rental lot were 300's in various other colours. I'm convinced that there's a glut of these cars, probably off-lease from Chrysler and auto union executives. The rental companies are probably desperate to push these, and cash in through their exorbitant re-fueling charges.

The numbers:

Chrysler 300 Touring
40.454 L for 255 km (15.864 L/100km)

Ford Fusion SEL
20.666 L for 180 km (11.481 L/100km)

In the stop and go traffic and (baffling!) flashing green lights of Vancouver, even the "green rental" Fusion only gets half the fuel economy of a Prius.